April 16, 2017

EASTER TIME

We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe

Our Easter Banner shows a symbol of the Cross of Resurrected Glory as the dawn of a new day of Easter grace. Every moment of life is an invitation for us to awaken to a new way of encountering the presence the living Christ among us. Each day is a chance to meet the Risen Lord in prayer, in ordinary events and in the people we encounter. Easter is the time to Remember, to Celebrate and to Believe.

We Remember the suffering of Jesus as a sign of God’s unconditional love for us. We Remember the Pascal Mystery of death and glorious Resurrection which is our promise of eternal life. Remember God’s grace at work in your own life. Call to mind your past blessings and thank God. God did provide. Gratitude grows Faith.

We Celebrate that the Risen Christ is alive in us and works through us. Affirm God’s presence with you in this very moment. Pray, “Lord, I trust that you are with me now in mind, body and spirit. My hope lies is in you.” God is providing. Trust gives hope.

We Believe that we are given each day of new life to be ambassadors of love and service, as Christ, for one another. You were created to receive and to give love. Imagine your future. How is God inviting you to live your mission in doing Christ’s work? God will provide all that you need. Second by second, you are being endlessly supplied and empowered to love and to offer service to others.

EASTER HYMN

We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe
Marty Haugen Adapted

We remember in our prayer time we’ve been blessed,
And so we celebrate for you are with us here.
And we believe that you entrust us
With your work, of love and service, Lord.
We remember, we celebrate, we believe.

†

EASTER PRAYER

THE SIGN OF THE EASTER CROSS

Make the sign of the cross. As you do, know that this desire to pray is God’s gift. You are praying.
• Touch your forehead…
Remember God’s blessings in your life. Say, “Thank You” which is the perfect prayer.
• Touch your heart…
Celebrate God’s presence in you. Smile.
• Touch your left and right shoulders…
Believe that you were created to receive and give love.
What love and service are you giving next?

EASTER RELECTION – WE CELEBRATE

A prominent court judge receives a call from his wife to come home immediately. Their four year old daughter is hysterical because her pet turtle, Pepe, has died. The judge is deeply upset upon seeing his daughter so inconsolable. He offers to buy her a new turtle releasing a new wave of crying. He suggests a turtle funeral, but the girl doesn’t know what that means. The judge explains that it is a celebration of life. She is not sold so he says, “We will celebrate like a birthday. You can invite your friends and we will have ice cream.” The girl stops crying. He continues, “how about balloons and pony rides?” The girl now has a full-on smile. “OK” says the dad, let’s bury the turtle and plan the party. As they approach the turtle box, the turtle moves and looks up. The little girl grabs her father’s hand and says, “Daddy do me a favor, please”. “Anything” he says. She says emphatically, “kill it”.
Laughter is a reason to celebrate!
The little girl and every one of us really like to celebrate. We call Easter a celebration and there is a lot to celebrate. Easter is a time to remember all that God has done for our Salvation, to celebrate the Risen Christ with us and to affirm our belief that we are given new life each day to love and serve one another in our mission to do Christ’s work.
Easter is a celebration of what God desires to do for us and in us every day. Like the father in our story, God wants to console us, heal us and empower us to live our lives most fully alive, to live in a spirit of celebration for God is with us here.
Easter celebrates what happened in the past and what God, through prayer and the Sacraments can do for us here and now.
Easter is a time to celebrate our God who brings new life into every situation which is a reason to celebrate.We Remember God’s healing power that enables us to renew our relationships through forgiveness and with hope.We Celebrate God in the gifts of nature, beauty, art, music, poetry and in the faces of those we love. We celebrate that suffering and death lead to new life and Resurrected Glory.We Believe that prayer, scripture and the sacraments grant us peace in this life and the motivation to love others as God loves us.
We remember that we are lovable because God loves us. We celebrate the love that God places in our hearts. We believe that we are here to share all of our gifts and our hearts with one another in practical ways of services.

Easter is every day whenever
WE Remember, WE Celebrate, WE Believe!

MEDITATION HOUR

Please join for prayer, guided meditation and reflection on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 PM in Marian Hall.

ST. PHILIP PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Students in Grades 2 through 8 attended Reconciliation this past week. Students have been participating in weekly Stations of the Cross prayer services, and attended a Living Stations presentation reenacted by students from Grades 5 through 8. Third graders have enjoyed learning about Westward Expansion and imagining life as a pioneer, and are working hard on their Biography Book Reports! We are looking forward to a busy Spring filled with exciting events such as Multicultural Day, field trips and Field Day.